November 26, 2018
This psalm starts another set of psalms known as "Michtam" . This is a word that means steadfast, unmovable, steady. The intro to this psalm states it is "A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath." This reference is given to give context to the psalm. The first four verses will talk of his fear and faith at the same time. The next four verses will tell of God as destroyer and deliverer. The last verses will tell of David's trust and thanksgiving in God !.
It is clear that when David was in the process of being captured he was frightened as he writes, "For there are many who fight against me, O Most High." He then goes on to say, " Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." We can see here that trust is not an emotion or feeling, but is a choice. David says I WILL trust in You ! Verse nine shows that David knows and trusts in God as he continues to describe the actions his enemies take against him. Yet, he says, "When I cry out to you, then my enemies will will turn back ;This I know because God is for me." This is not blind faith but a trust based in faith ! No matter the circumstances David trusts in God and his actions show it. This is one of many reasons God calls David a man after My own heart.
The ending of this psalm is best seen in verse 13 " I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death" Very interesting choice of words ! He does NOT say You saved my body from death but he says You delivered my SOUL from death ! Once again we see a spiritual message in a historical recount. Only God can save a mans soul and David acknowledges that once again. This is the whole key to this "Michtam" psalm.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Psalm 55
November 18, 2018
This is the last in our cluster of psalms the give us a picture of Anti-Christ. The setting for this psalm is probably when Absalom (David's Son) led a revolt against David. Also at this time David's trusted adviser, Ahithophel, joined the revolt ! As with the other psalms in this little cluster, it is broken into three parts : 1) Prayer of distress, 2) of justice, and of assurance in deliverance by God.
The first three verses make you think of finger nails on a chalk board ! David is begging God to hear him and do not ignore him ! David explains that his enemies are after him and he fears for his life. The begining of verse four is a key to the historical placement of this psalm. It starts out, " My heart is severely pained within me," Why else would his heart be pained other than to know his son , along with his trusted adviser, is trying to kill him ! Verse seven shows that David was not longing for a fight. Which was odd because he was a warrior. "Indeed, I would wander off, and remain in the wilderness." This only makes sense in the context that he did not want to fight and kill his son !
Verse nine is the begining of the second part of the psalm as it starts the asking for justice from God on David's enemies. "Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues." Verse 13 shows the distress David was under , " But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance." His heart was breaking because of their betrayal. During the tribulation all will appear to be good between anti-Christ and Israel. Israel will be betrayed and the rest of the world will begin to turn against Israel because of anti-Christ ! From verse nine through fifteen David is asking for justice in detail !! "Let death seize them; let them go down alive into hell." (verse 15) .
Begining with verse 16 and through verse 23 David is now praying and thanking God for His help. This shows great faith on David's part. God has not acted yet, yet David is praying as though God has already taken care of it. This is a great example of that quaint saying,"Pray , believe, expect to receive." Verse sixteen starts out, " As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me." For those of us that are Christian this is a lesson few ever learn. If you do learn and practice it, it can be very scary ! So much so that you will find yourself giving the person over to God and praying for mercy on them at the same time !! God's justice is always much more than we can ever imagine. So, always turn all problems over to God ( The entire problem not just part of it) and pray for mercy for all those involved. Verse 22 confirms this when it says, " Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."
This is the last in our cluster of psalms the give us a picture of Anti-Christ. The setting for this psalm is probably when Absalom (David's Son) led a revolt against David. Also at this time David's trusted adviser, Ahithophel, joined the revolt ! As with the other psalms in this little cluster, it is broken into three parts : 1) Prayer of distress, 2) of justice, and of assurance in deliverance by God.
The first three verses make you think of finger nails on a chalk board ! David is begging God to hear him and do not ignore him ! David explains that his enemies are after him and he fears for his life. The begining of verse four is a key to the historical placement of this psalm. It starts out, " My heart is severely pained within me," Why else would his heart be pained other than to know his son , along with his trusted adviser, is trying to kill him ! Verse seven shows that David was not longing for a fight. Which was odd because he was a warrior. "Indeed, I would wander off, and remain in the wilderness." This only makes sense in the context that he did not want to fight and kill his son !
Verse nine is the begining of the second part of the psalm as it starts the asking for justice from God on David's enemies. "Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues." Verse 13 shows the distress David was under , " But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance." His heart was breaking because of their betrayal. During the tribulation all will appear to be good between anti-Christ and Israel. Israel will be betrayed and the rest of the world will begin to turn against Israel because of anti-Christ ! From verse nine through fifteen David is asking for justice in detail !! "Let death seize them; let them go down alive into hell." (verse 15) .
Begining with verse 16 and through verse 23 David is now praying and thanking God for His help. This shows great faith on David's part. God has not acted yet, yet David is praying as though God has already taken care of it. This is a great example of that quaint saying,"Pray , believe, expect to receive." Verse sixteen starts out, " As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me." For those of us that are Christian this is a lesson few ever learn. If you do learn and practice it, it can be very scary ! So much so that you will find yourself giving the person over to God and praying for mercy on them at the same time !! God's justice is always much more than we can ever imagine. So, always turn all problems over to God ( The entire problem not just part of it) and pray for mercy for all those involved. Verse 22 confirms this when it says, " Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Psalm 54
November 11, 2018
David, the psalmist, was betrayed by the Ziphites during the time when Saul was trying to kill him. This psalm again has 3 distinct parts. Prayer to be saved, anticipation of being saved, and thanks for being saved. Just as the Jews will be betrayed by the Anti-Christ they also will pray to be saved, anticipate being saved, and then give thanks for being saved. We do know from the historical record that God did in fact save David from his enemies ... the Ziphites.
The first verse starts " Save me, O God, by Your name ..." This is the start of Davids prayer to be saved from his enemies. When Anti-Christ turns on the Jews, they also will cry out to God to be saved!! Verse 4 starts with his anticipation of God saving him, " Behold, God is my helper ; The Lord is with those who uphold my life." As Anti-Christ starts to destroy the Jews, the Jews will know and anticipate that God will deliver them from death ! Verse 6 and 7, the final verses in this psalm, start the giving thanks to God for His salvation of David from his enemies. " I will freely sacrifice to You ; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good." This is a promise to all that in the final conflict with the enemies of God, we will be saved by God and will praise Him for our salvation !
David, the psalmist, was betrayed by the Ziphites during the time when Saul was trying to kill him. This psalm again has 3 distinct parts. Prayer to be saved, anticipation of being saved, and thanks for being saved. Just as the Jews will be betrayed by the Anti-Christ they also will pray to be saved, anticipate being saved, and then give thanks for being saved. We do know from the historical record that God did in fact save David from his enemies ... the Ziphites.
The first verse starts " Save me, O God, by Your name ..." This is the start of Davids prayer to be saved from his enemies. When Anti-Christ turns on the Jews, they also will cry out to God to be saved!! Verse 4 starts with his anticipation of God saving him, " Behold, God is my helper ; The Lord is with those who uphold my life." As Anti-Christ starts to destroy the Jews, the Jews will know and anticipate that God will deliver them from death ! Verse 6 and 7, the final verses in this psalm, start the giving thanks to God for His salvation of David from his enemies. " I will freely sacrifice to You ; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good." This is a promise to all that in the final conflict with the enemies of God, we will be saved by God and will praise Him for our salvation !
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Psalm 53
November 3, 2018
This is the second of four psalms in a row that will look at the Anti-Christ. This psalm is again divided into three sections. 1) a description of those (Anti-Christ) reject God and His people, 2) The danger to those (Anti-Christ) who reject God and His people, and 3) the deliverance of God's people from Anti-Christ.
The first part of verse on is a famous verse in scripture, " The fool has said in his heart "There is no God.""Right from the start we can see that the Anti-Christ says there is no God ! It goes on to say he is corrupt and has done abominable inequity ( unbelievable sin). Verse two starts by saying that God looks down from heaven to see "if there are any who understand or seek God." The answer is no ! This speaks to scripture teaching of a pre-tribulation time when Anti-Christ is in power ! "There is none who does good, No, not one."
Verse 5 talks about fear. God says that there was now fear where there was no fear before. This refers to a battle where God will deliver His people and fear will be visited upon the enemy because of what was done to His people ! This verse ends by saying, " Because God has despised them." For all the Anti-Christ will do to the people of Israel, God will take revenge upon the Anti-Christ and his followers will all experience fear for the first time !
The last verse refers to the deliverance of His people after the demise of Anti-Christ and the remnant is brought back to Israel by God ! The last line of verse 6 says, " Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad." This refers to the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel rejoicing for God has saved them from destruction !
This is the second of four psalms in a row that will look at the Anti-Christ. This psalm is again divided into three sections. 1) a description of those (Anti-Christ) reject God and His people, 2) The danger to those (Anti-Christ) who reject God and His people, and 3) the deliverance of God's people from Anti-Christ.
The first part of verse on is a famous verse in scripture, " The fool has said in his heart "There is no God.""Right from the start we can see that the Anti-Christ says there is no God ! It goes on to say he is corrupt and has done abominable inequity ( unbelievable sin). Verse two starts by saying that God looks down from heaven to see "if there are any who understand or seek God." The answer is no ! This speaks to scripture teaching of a pre-tribulation time when Anti-Christ is in power ! "There is none who does good, No, not one."
Verse 5 talks about fear. God says that there was now fear where there was no fear before. This refers to a battle where God will deliver His people and fear will be visited upon the enemy because of what was done to His people ! This verse ends by saying, " Because God has despised them." For all the Anti-Christ will do to the people of Israel, God will take revenge upon the Anti-Christ and his followers will all experience fear for the first time !
The last verse refers to the deliverance of His people after the demise of Anti-Christ and the remnant is brought back to Israel by God ! The last line of verse 6 says, " Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad." This refers to the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel rejoicing for God has saved them from destruction !
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